Belt conveyor



Aug 17 1965 w. N. PouNDsToNE 3,200,939

BELT CONVEYOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed June 17, 1958 o9 im INVENTOR.

WILLIAM N. POUNDSTONE HIS ATTORNEY Aug- 17, 1965 w. N. PoUNDsToNE 3,200,939

BELT CONVEYOR Original Filed June 17, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM N. POUNDSTONE HIS ATTORNEY 3,260,939 BELT CNVEYR William N. loundstone, Morgantown, W. Va., assigner te Consolidation Coal Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania @riginal appiieaticn .inne 17, 1958, Ser. No. 742,580. Divided and this application Feb. 17, 1964, Ser. No.

7 Claims. (Cl. 198-192) This invention relates to a flexible endless belt conveyor mechanism and more particularly to a tiexible endless belt conveyor mechanism suspended from an overhead supporting means.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 742,580, entitled Belt Conveyor.

The endless belt conveyor having flexible strand type side` frames has provided the mining industry with an improved apparatus for conveying mined materialV through the various haulageways to either the discharge terminus or to other haulage means. The iiexible strand side frames absorb the shock of uneven load distribution of the material on the conveyor reach. The longitudinal oscillation or movement of the flexible strands and their lateral deflection toward each other contributes to this shock absorbing feature. It'has been found that the tlexible strand type conveyor materially reduces belt wear and provides a more dependable and inexpensive means of transportation.

The conventional flexible strand conveyors are supported intermediate their ends by a plurality of spaced stands. The stands in turn rest on the mine tloor. The floor supported conveyors have several undesirable features that restrict their use underground. For instance, it is difficult to clean up spillage of material beneath this lloor supported conveyor since the return reach is adjacent to the mine floor. Further, the door supported conveyor mechanism takes up a majority of the oor space in the haulageway and restricts the area remaining to carry supplies through the haulageway to the mine face. This is particularly true where the conveyor mechanism is a relatively lixed installation in one of the main haulageways.

My improved endless belt conveyor mechanism includes a flexible strand conveyor that is supported from an overhead supporting structure. More particularly, the conveyor mechanism is positioned adjacent the mine roof and is supported therefrom. There is also provided a means to absorb the longitudinal movement of the flexible strands during the conveying of uneven loads of material on the conveying reach.

Further, my conveyor mechanism includes a means to adjust the tixed support relative to the mine roof so that the strands can be properly aligned along a predetermined course.

My improved conveyor system also includes a flexible troughed idler assembly which is secured to the exible strands and movable therewith with the conveying `reach supported by the llexible troughed idler assemblies. The troughed idler assemblies include a self-aligning means which automatically centers the conveying reach between the liexible strands and maintains the conveying reach in that position under various uneven lateral distribution of the load thereon. The self-aligning means moves the idler roller relative to the tlexible strands when the belt deviates laterally from its normal course. This movement of the idler roller urges the belt in a lateral direction opposite tothat of its deviation.

My conveyor mechanism includes also a means to support the return reach of the conveyor belt from the llexible strands. The return reach idler assemblies are United States Patent O M 3,2%,939 Patented Aug.. 17, l95

ICC

also provided with a self-aligning means that maintains the return reach centered between the flexible strands.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide a conveyor system having tlexible strand side frames that are supported along their length from a fixed member positioned thereabove.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flexible troughed idler assembly having self-aligning features.

Another object of this invention is to provide a return reach idler assembly adapted to be secured to a ilexible strand and having self-aligning features.

A further object of this invention is to provide a supporting means for the flexible strand side frames which has a fixed portion adapted to be secured to the mine roof and a flexible portion adapted to absorb the longitudinal movement of the llexible strand side frames.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an overhead supporting means for a pair of flexible strand side frames that includes an adjustment means whereby the flexible strands may be trained or aligned along a predetermined course.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be more completely described and distinctly pointed out in the following specification, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary View in side elevation of a portion of my conveyor mechanism as it appears operatively positioned in a mine haulageway.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the conveying reach illustrating my improved flexible troughed idler assembly.`

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the ilexible troughed idler assembly illustrated in FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a detailed fragmentary view in section of the flexible troughed idler assembly taken along the line 4-4 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is another fragmentary view in section of a portion of the troughed idler assembly taken along the line 5 5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a view in side elevation of one of the liexible strand supporting means.

FIGURE 7 is a view in front elevation of one of the dexible strand supporting means.

FIGURE 8 is a view in section taken along the line 8 3 in FIGURE l and illustrating in front elevation the tlexible troughed idler assembly with the conveying reach positioned thereon.

FIGURE 9 is a view in section taken along the line 9-9 of FIGURE l and illustrating in rear elevation the return reach idler assembly with the conveyor return reach positioned thereon. t

FIGURE l0 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the return reach idler assembly. t

FIGURE ll is a fragmentary top plan view of the conveyor belt return reach and the return reach idler assembly.

FIGURE l2 is a schematic view ofthe conveying reach idler assembly components.

FIGURE 13 is a schematic View ofthe return reach idler assembly components.

FlGURE 14 is an isometric View of strand aligning member 38.

Refer-ring to the drawings and particularly to FIGURE 1, there isshown a ilexible strand conveying mechanism generally designated by the numeral ld positioned in a mine haulageway l2 having a roof t4 and a floor I6. The vertical dimension of the haulageway l2 is usually determined by the thickness of the mined material. In the illustration, a substantial distance is shown between the conveying mechanism lll and the door 16. It should n3 be understood, however, that the conveying mechanism would operate with equal facility if this distance were substantially reduced.

The conveyor mechanism 1li includes a pair of flexible strands 18 and 2t) which extend longitudinally in the haulageway 12. The strands 18 and 2@ are positioned in spaced parallel relation to each other and are anchored at one end at 22. A strut member 2/1 extends downwardly from the roof to maintain the ends of strands 18 and Ztl in proper spaced relation with the roof 14. In FIGURE 1 only one end of each of the tiexible strands 18 land 2li is illustrated as anchored to the roof at 22. It should be understood, however, that the other end of this section of the flexible strands could be anchored to the roof in a similar manner or anchored to the head or loading section of the conveyor.

The flexible strands 1S and 26 are supported intermediate their end portions by means of a plurality of strand supports generally designated by the numeral 26. The strand supports 26 are illustrated in detail in FIG- URES 6, 7 and 14 and include a roof bolt 2S having an expansible wedge member 31B which is adapted to rigidly secure the bolt 28 in the mine roof 14. The bolt 2S has a threaded end portion 32 which extends below the mine roof 14. A washer 34 is positioned around the bolt 23 and a nut 36 draws the bolt 2S downwardly and expands the expansible wedge member 311 to rigidly secure the bolt 28 in the mine roof.

The strand support 26 includes a strand aligning member 38 which is annular in shape and has a horizontal portion 4t) and a vertical portion 42. The horizontal portion 411 has an elongated lateral slot 44 through which the bolt threaded end portion 32 extends. A second nut 46 secures the strand aligning member 3S to the roof bolt 28. The vertical portion 42 has a keyway shaped slot 48 therein., A chain 56j has a hook shaped end portion 52 which is positioned in the keyway slot 4S so that the strand aligning member .311 supports the depending chain t) therefrom. The other end of the chain Sti has a strand securing member 54 secured thereto. The strand securing member 54 has a grooved portion S6 in which the flexible strands 18 or 2t) are positioned. A bolt member 58 extends through aligned apertures in the strand securing member 54 above the flexible strand 18 to thereby secure the strand therein. Anut 6@ is threadably secured to the bolt 53 and7 when tightened, iixedly secures the exible strand 18 to the strand securing member 54.

As previously stated, the flexible strand type side frames, which in this instance are strands 18 and 20, move 1ongitudinally under conditions of uneven longitudinal load distribution on the conveying reach. The strand supports 26 absorb or take up this longitudinal movement by a pendulum like action of the chains 50. The strand supports 26 therefore provide a flexible connection between the fixed portion of the strand supporting means and the exible strands. It should be noted, however, with this arrangement that there is a complete absence of any friction between the flexible strands and their supporting means thereby completely eliminating any frictional wear that would result from the longitudinal movement of the strands relative to their supporting means.

In the initial layout of the course for the lexible strands 18 and 2t) in the mine haulageway 12 the roof bolts 28 are inserted in the mine roof 14 substantially along a preselected course. The positioning of a roof bolt at a predetermined location is extremely difficult due to the type of machinery employed in drilling the roof bolt holes. The vibrations and deviation of the roof bolt hole drilling equipment and the conditions under which the drilling operation is performed contribute to this inaccuracy. In order for the conveying reach and return reach to follow a truly linear course it is desirable that the flexible strands extend along parallel linear paths and the flexible portion of the strand supports 26 depend from the roof in a substantially vertical plane. The strand aligning members 33 serve to assist in aligning the flexible strands 18 and 21B as follows. After the roof bolts 28 have been properly secured in the mine roof 14 and the Strands 18 and 2t) have been properly anchored at their end portions, the strand connecting member of each Support 26 is then secured to the respective flexible strands. The roof bolt end portion 32 is then adjusted in the strand aligning member elongated slot 44 until the chains 5@ depend therefrom in a substantially vertical plane. After this adjustment is accomplished, the nut 46 is tightened and the flexible strands 1S and 211 are trained along a predetermined linear course with the chains 5'@ depending in a substantially vertical plane from the mine roof 14.

The conveying mechanism 1Q includes an endless flexible belt having a conveying reach generally designated by the numeral 62 and a return reach 64. The conveying reach 62 is supported along its length by a plurality of flexible troughed idler assemblies generally designated by the numeral 66. The return reach is similarly supported alongrits length by a plurality of return reach idler assemblies 68. Both the conveying reach idler assemblies 66 and return reach idler assemblies 68 are supported by the liexible strands 18 and 2li as will be later described.

The conveying reach idler assembly is illustrated in detail in FIGURES 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and l2. Referring to these figures, the conveying reach idler assembly 66, hereinafter called troughed idler assembly 66, includes a tubular spreader 70 which has a pair of longitudinal slots 72 and 74 adjacent its end portions (FIGURE 8). The slots '72 and 74 receive the flexible strands 1S and 2li therein. The spreader 7@ has a pair of aligned vertical apertures 76 and 73 adjacent each end portion which receive a bolt 8d therethrough (FIGURE 5). A nut S2 is secured to the threaded end portion of bolt .8G and serves to secure the respective exible strands 1S and 2t) within the respective slots 72 and 74. inwardly spaced from the vertical apertures '76 and 73 are other vertical apertures $4 and 86 (FIGURE 4). Bolts 83 having threaded end portions 99 and 92 extend through the respective apertures 84 and 86. A first nut 94 is secured to the upper threaded end portion 90.

A pair of idler roller supporting members 96 and 98 are pivotally secured to the spreader member 7l). The roller supporting member 96 has a base portion 100 and a forwardly extending arm portion 102. The arm portion 102 is turned inwardly in respect to the base portion 1111i as viewed in FIGURE 2. The armportion 192 extends upwardly from the base portion 11111 as viewed in side elevation (FIGURE 3). The roller support member arm 162 has a down turned end portion 1614 with a lateral slot 1116 therein.

The roller support member 98 also has a base portion 108 and an inwardly extending arm portion 110 as viewed in plan (FIGURE 2) with a down turned forward end portion 112. The roller support member arm 110 is bent upwardly relative to the base portion 103 as illustrated in FGURE 3. The down turned portion 112 is turned so that it is substantially parallel to the base vportion 1118. The roller support member down turned portion 112 has a lateral slot 118 therein.

The roller support members 96 and 98 each have a vertical aperture 114 through their base portions (FIG- URE 4). The bolts SS which extend through the apertures 84 and 86 in the spreader member '70 also extend through the respective apertures 114 in the roller support base members 1li@ or 1118. Nuts 116 are threadedly secured on the lower end portions 92 of bolts 88 and pivotally secure the roller supporting members 96 and 9S to the spreader member 70.

A iiexible troughed idler roller has hooked end portions 122 and 124 which rest in the respective roller support member slots 118 and 106. The hook and slot type of connection between the idler roller 120 and the roller support members 96 and 98 provides a hinge type' connection between the roller support members 96 and 9% and the roller 126. With this arrangement the roller support members 96 and 98 may pivot relative to the spreader member 7i) without restriction due to their connection to the idler roller 121i. A flexible cable 126 is secured to the rear end portions of both roller support members 96 and 9S. The cable 126 limits the inward movement of the roller support member end portions 164 and 112 toward each other. The cable 126 does not, however, restrict the movement of the roller support members 96 and 9S away from each other. Bothof the arm members 162 and 116 havel hooks 128 extending upwardly therefrom. A pair of chains 130 and 132 are secured at one end to the respective bolts 88 extending through apertures in the spreader 70. A second nut 134 secures the respective chains to the respective bolts 88. The other ends of the chains 136 and 132 are secured to the respective hooks 128. The effective length of the chains 131i and 132 may be changed by the selection of the link which extends around the hook 128.

1n FIGURE 1 the arrow between the mine roof 14 and the conveying reach 62 indicates the direction of travel of the conveying reach. The direction of travel of the return reach 64 is opposite to that of the conveying reach 62. In FIGURE 2 the direction of travel of the conveying reach 62 is indicated by the arrow superimposed thereon. The roller support members 96 and 9S have their arm portions 162 and 116 extending in the direction of belt travel. As viewed in FGURE 3 the arms extend upwardly so that the conveying reach 62 is supported above the flexible strands 18 and 26.

It should be noted that the roller support member arms 162 and 116 are turned inwardly toward each other in plan View. With this construction and arrangement the troughed idler roller assembly 66 has self-aligning features. The assembly tends to limit any lateral deviation of the conveying reach 62 in the following manner. As viewed in FIGURE 2 the conveying reach appears centered between the flexible strands 16 and 26. Assume Vthe belt, because of uneven lateral load distribution or some other reason, tends to deviate toward the left from its normal course, which in the drawing would be in the direction indicated by the dotted arrow. The movement of the belt in this direction also urges the roller supporting members 96 and 98 in the same direction. This is indicated by the dash-dot-dash-dot lines 136 and 138 in FIGURE 2. As previously stated, both roller support members 96 and 98 are pivotally secured to spreader member '76 so that they are free to pivot laterally in either direction. As the support members 96 and 98 pivot in the direction of belt deviation the arm end portion 164 moves inwardly toward the belt and the arm end portion 112 moves outwardly away from the belt. in doing so the longitudinal axis of the fiexible troughed idler rolier 121i deviates angularly as indicated by the angle A between the lines 146 and 142. The line 146 indicates the longitudinal axis of the idler roller 126 when the conveying reach 62 is in a centered position. The line 142 indicates the longitudinal axis of the idler roller 126 in its corrective position when the conveying reach 62 tends to deviate toward the left. In the corrective position as indicated by line 142 the idler roller urges the conveying reach 62 in a direction opposite to that of its lateral deviation and returns the conveying reach 62 to its centered position.

With the construction of the idler roller assembly illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 a further self-aligning feature is present. Referring to FIGURE 3, in the event of a substantial uneven lateral distribution of the load on the conveying reach the roller supporting member which is required to carry the largest amount of the proportionate load will tend to dip downwardly as illustrated by the curved dash-dot line 144 in FIGURE 3. As the arm moves downwardly aiong the arc 144 the longitudinal axis of the idler roller 126 will again deviate and thereby urge the belt toward a centered position.

To further illustrate the deviation of the longitudinal axis of idler roller 126, schematic FIGURE 12 is included and the respective components of the idler assembly 66 are given numerais similar to those in FIGURE 2.

The return reach idler lassembly 63 is illustrated in FIGURES 9, 10, 11 and 13. The return peach idler assembly 68 includes an idler roller 146 having a roll shaft 14S extending therethrough on which the idler roller 146 rotates. The return reach 64 is supported by the idler roller 146. The roll shaft has a pair of horizontal apertures and 162 adjacent its end portions. The roll shaft 146 is connected at one end to the flexible strand 18 by a pair of chains 154 and 156. 'Ihe other end of the roll shaft 148 is connected to the exible strand 2t) by means of a second pair of chains 158 and 160. The chains 154 and 156 are connected at one end to a ring member 162 extending through -the aperture 150 in the roll shaft 148. The other end of chain 154 is connected to a ring connector 174 of clamp 164 which in turn is secured to flexible strand 13. The chain 156 is connected to the outboard .side of the stand securing member 54 by a suitable ring connector 166. The strand supporting member 54 in this instance is a portion of the iiexible strand support 26. It should be noted, however, that the chain 156 could be connected to the strand 118 by means of la clamp similar to clamp 164. The chains 158 and 160 .are similarly secured to the roll shaft 14S at one end lby a ring member `163 and the chain 160 is connected to a ring connector l172 yof a clamp 54 which in turn is secured to iiexible strand 26 and chain '1581 is connected to the strand securing member by a ring connector 176.

As illustrated in FIGURES 9, 10 and ll, the chains 156 and 166 are secured to the outboard sides of Kthe strand .securing memfber S4 by suitable ring connectors 166 and 172.` The chains 154 and 15S are secured to the inlboard side of the respective strands 13 and 2i) by ring connectors 174 and 176. The chains 154 and 156 `are of substantially the same length and less than the length of chains 156 and 161).

The return reach idler assemblies 68 also have belt aligning features. Although the return reach 64 is not a load carrying reach, the weight of the belt itself results in frictional contact `between the belt 64 and the roller 146. Any deviation of the return reach 64 in a lateral direction exerts a lateral force on the idler roller 1146. Because of the chain arrangement the lateral force in the Adirection of deviation exerted on the roller 146 urges the roller in the direction of deviation. Due to the chain arrangement as `the roller moves laterally the axis of the idler roller 146 also changes to urge the return reach in a direction opposite to that of its deviation. The change of the longitudinal axis of the idler roller 146 is indicated by the dotted line 173 and the dot-dash line 180. Dotdash line 18) indicates the longitudinal axis of the idler roller 146 -when the return reach 64 is in a centered position. Dotted line 173 indicates the longitudinal axis of the return reach idler 146 as it urges the conveyor reach in la direction opposite to that of its lateral deviation.

FIGURE 13 illustrates the respective components of the return reach idler assembly 68 schematically. It should -be noted in this figure that the chains 154 and 156 .and their connections to the iiexible strand 18 form a triangular plane with the roll shaft 148 connected at its apex. The base of the triangular plane extends from the connections 166 and 174. The lbase is not, however, parallel to the flexible strand y18. The chains 158 and 2160 and their connections to the -exible strand 2i) also form a triangular plane with the ibase extending between the respective connections 172 and 176. The base of the triangular plane formed by chains 15S and 160 is not parallel to the iiexible strand 26. As the idler roller 146 coaxially arranged on roll shaft 148 deviates away from its centered position, both of the triangular planes formed by the respective chains and their connections pivot about their base line. Since the triangular planes .are not parallel to the flexible strands the axes of the idler roller 146 and roll shaft 14S deviate to return the return reach 64 to its centered position.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle, preferred construction, and mode of operation of my invention and have illustrated `and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. In a self-aligning flexible troughed idler roller assembly the combination comprising a pair of idler roller supporting members positioned in spaced relation to each other and having front end portions and rear end portions, a base member secured at its ends to a pair of spaced iiexible strands and extending laterally therebetween, said supporting members each pivotally secured to said -base member intermediate said end portions, a iiexi-ble troughed idler roller connected to both of said supporting members adjacent said front end portions and extending therebetween, and a spacer member connected to said supporting members .adjacent said rear end portions, said supporting members adapted to pivot laterally relative to said baise mem'ber and move downwardly upon lateral deviation of a conveyor belt supported by said idler roller so that said idler roller urges said conveyor -belt in a direction opposite to said lateral deviation.

2. In a `self-aligning flexible troughed idler roller assembly las set forth in claim 1 in which said idler roller supporting membens each include a body portion and a forwardly extending arm portion, said body portions being pivotally secured to -base member and said arm portions turned inwardly toward each other.

3. In a self-aligning iiexible troughed idler roller assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said idler roller supporting members each include a body portion and a forwardly extending arm portion, said body portion being pivotally secured to said base member and said arm portion turned upwardly relative to said body portion.

4. A self-aligning flexible troughed idler roller assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said base member includes a spreader member secured at its ends to a pair of iiexible strands and extending laterally therebetween, said idler roller supporting members each having a body portion and a forwardly extending arm portion, said body portions pivotally secured to said spreader 8 member, said arm portions turned inwardly toward each other and upwardly relative to said respective body portions, said spreader member arranged to rotate axially and move said arm members downwardly upon lateral deviation of said conveyor belt.

5. A self-aligning tiexible troughed idler roller assembly as set forth in claim 4 which includes a pair of flexible members connecting said idler roller supporting member arms adjacent said front end portion to said spreader member.

6. A self-aligning idler roller assembly comprising in combination, idler roller means, shaft means extending coaxially through said idler roller means, said idler roller means being rotatable relative to said shaft means, said shaft means having a connecting means adjacent each end, first and second members connected to one of said shaft connecting means, third and fourth members connected to the other of said connecting means, supporting means for said idler roller assembly positioned thereabove, said first member pivotally connected to said supporting means, said second member pivotally connected to said supporting means in spaced relation to said rst member longitudinally along said supporting means and spaced laterally from said first member, said third member pivotally connected to said supporting means in lateral spaced relation to said first member, and said fourth member pivotally connected Vto said supporting means in spaced relation to said third member longitudinally along said supporting means and spaced laterally from said third member, said members adapted to pivot relative to said supporting means upon lateral deviation of a conveyor belt supported by said idler roller means so that said idler roller urges said conveyor belt in a direction opposite to said lateral deviation.

7. A self-aligning roller assembly as set forth in claim 6 in which said rst, second, third and fourth members include exible members and said supporting means includes a pair of spaced flexible strands.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,132,053 V10/38 Sollenberger 19H-N2 2,873,022 2/59 Murphy 19E-102 2,896,774 7/59 Long 198-262 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM B. LA BORDE, Examiner. 

1. IN A SELF-ALIGNING FLEXIBLE TROUGHED IDLER ROLLER ASASMBLY THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A PAIR OF IDLER ROLLER SUPPORTING MEMBERS POSITIONED IN SPACED RELATION TO EACH OTHER AND HAVING FRONE END PORTIONS AND REAR END PORTIONS, A BASE MEMBER SECURED AT ITS ENDS TO A PAIR OF SPACED FLEXIBLE STRANDS AND EXTENDING LATERALLY THEREBETWEEN, SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER EACH PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID BASE MEMBER INTERMEDIATE SAID END PORTIONS, A FLEXIBLE TROUGHED IDLER ROLLER CONNECTED TO BOTH OF SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS ADJACENT SAID FRONT END PORTIONS AND EXTENDING THEREBETWEEN, AND A SPACER MEMBER CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS ADJACENT SAID REAR END PORTIONS, SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS ADAPTED TO PIVOT LATERALLY RELATIVE TO SAID BASE MEMBER AND MOVE DOWNWARDLY UPON LATERAL DEVIATION OF A CONVEYOR BELT SUPPORTED BY SAID IDLER ROLLER SO THAT SAID IDLER ROLLER URGES SAID CONVEYOR BELT IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO SAID LATERAL DEVIATION. 